Technology in Construction
INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY ARE TRANSFORMING AMERICA’S INDUSTRIES—AND CONSTRUCTION IS NO EXCEPTION.
Rainwater Construction Company has enthusiastically embraced the advances that are making our industry more efficient, safer, more collaborative, and more successful. As we launch into the new year, we look forward to implementing even more technological solutions that will benefit our clients and the people they serve.
Here are a few of the exciting ways technology is revolutionizing our approach to construction:
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY: A RELENTLESS PROGRESSION
THE DAYS OF 2-DIMENSIONAL DRAWINGS AND BLUEPRINTS AREN’T FAR IN THE PAST, BUT MODERN INNOVATIONS MAKE THEM SEEM QUAINT.
Construction design entered the digital age with computer-aided design (CAD), which soon became standard in the industry. Now, rather than implementing changes by hand on a physical medium, architects, designers, engineers, developers, project managers and owners can make changes easily and efficiently on a digital image. The internet facilitated communication between the parties to a degree unimaginable before. And collaboration between the various stakeholders on a project is now much more feasible and convenient.
Newer versions of CAD employed three-dimensional representations, making the images more realistic and enhancing their usability. A number of CAD software programs led the way in this design revolution: CAD Civil 3E, CAD Plant 3D, CATIA, SkyCiv Strutcuarl 34, and SolidWorks Premium, to name a few.
This technology evolved into what we now know as building information modeling (BIM), which incorporates all the various elements of a building design in one layered image. Teams can now see digital representations of a building that incorporate electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, in addition to the basic structure. Subcontractors can add their specific contributions, allowing all users to observe how the various elements interact. They can then easily make modifications as needed—on a digital image rather than on physical structures in the field.
This ability for teams to collaborate on a digital model before building begins has permanently changed the construction process, making it safer, more efficient, and less error prone. One of the benefits is the ability to spot safety hazards in the model before they become a physical reality. That one feature has probably saved untold lives.
USING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELD
The benefits of BIM continue during the actual building phase and even afterwards. Project managers and other responsible parties can consult the digital models in real time while working onsite, resolving problems and getting quick answers to questions that arise.
The steel crews at Rainwater Construction Company benefit immensely from BIM technology. Ready access to all the details of a project helps us to resolve questions efficiently and accurately in real time. The benefits accrue to everyone—from our team members who work in an environment of enhanced safety to our investors and clients who can reap higher profits.
USING BIM TECHNOLOGY AFTER THE BUILDING IS COMPLETED
Once a building is finished, the same digital model used in the construction phase can be used to facilitate its operations. In this role, the technology is sometimes referred to as building information management. Those responsible for a building’s day-to-day operations can consult the digital image when issues arise, quickly accessing a digital view of the entire structure and its components.
Another aspect of this technology is the concept of digital twinning. A digital twin is a computerized representation of an object or structure that replicates all its features and activities, allowing users to track the impact of various changes and processes. This is especially useful for building managers who must monitor a complex array of systems in their buildings and stay informed of changes caused by daily use.
ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY MARVEL: 360° PHOTOGRAPHY
The innovations we’ve described so far have obvious benefits for the professionals involved in creating a commercial or industrial structure. But the same technology is useful for client relations. A client can view her project remotely on a computer screen from the first day of conception through the entire construction process and beyond. This provides a degree of involvement, gratification, and convenience for clients that could only be imagined a few years ago.
In the same vein, one of the more client-friendly developments of recent years is the advent of 360° photography.
With this technology, a digital, spherical, panoramic image is created of a chosen scene, object or location. In the case of a construction project, the user can take a virtual tour, entering different parts of the structure, zooming in and out, rotating the scene up, down or sideways. Clearly, this is an ideal tool for conveying the full breadth of a construction project to a client. It is already transforming the experience for a number of Rainwater Construction Company clients, who can now view their projects remotely.
WHATS NEXT?
Entering 2024, Rainwater Construction Company is eager to embrace more technological solutions to benefit our clients. Among the tools now available for construction uses:
ROBOTICS
Already, robots are being used at construction sites to survey and assess property—saving time, labor and even lives. Robots can go where it would be dangerous to send a human.
DRONES
The use of drones to record video or access hard-to-reach locations is an exciting technological frontier for the construction industry.
VR / AR
Virtual reality and its near relative, augmented reality, can provide a user experience that is amazing and effective. It can give clients a comprehensive view of a construction project that is unequaled in impact.
The tech revolution that began a few years ago is reverberating through the construction industry as never before. It’s an exciting time to be in the field. And the future possibilities seem limitless.
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